Following almost destroying our planet, our families are allies’: a gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity edged nearer toward destruction more so than ever in recent history. This transpired when a US surveillance plane discovered that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being built on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to enact a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost a fortnight of impossible stress.

An Catastrophic Threat

The danger was obvious. If President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a cascade of worldwide nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes could have followed, plunging humanity into all-out oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered endlessly, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new dimension to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the figures who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Russians planning? What were the United States thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its attempt to question: "Why do nations detest one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or can become complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently a writer and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to fight."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people globally were able to observe almost in real time while it moved closer to armageddon. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have sunk the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate when many advisors around them were advocating military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's education system, which painted a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly wonderful or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and USSR to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"Max and I aren't the first," notes Nina. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp